On The Road

July 23, 2009

Busting the myth that leaving lights on conserves

Posted by Susan Lim
Where: White Rock Pier

Three months into our role as BC Hydro Community Outreach Representatives, it’s no surprise we’ve spoken to over tens of thousands of people about energy conservation. Despite the numerous interactions we’ve had, no single conversation has ever been the same.

A certain chat with a couple of enthusiastic ladies at White Rock Pier struck me as especially interesting. One overcast, but warm Thursday afternoon, we headed to White Rock Pier along with our beloved lamp mascot to spread the word about Team Power Smart. Two women sat on a bench along the pier, smiling at the jovial lamp waddling towards them.

Gesturing to our lamp, I inquired, “Do you ladies remember to turn off your lights when they’re not in use?” One woman replied eagerly that she turns off all her lights, even if she leaves a room for a short period of time. She shared that her habits had changed, due to a Mythbusters episode about light bulbs. She had believed that more energy was saved by leaving lights on.

However, Mythbusters proved this belief was a myth and showed that energy is saved by turning off either a CFL or incandescent light bulb for even a fraction of a second – basically, in the blink of an eye. Gesturing to her companion, she said with a small laugh, “It was the funniest coincidence; just one week before I saw the episode, we were having a debate about leaving lights on. She was telling me it was better to turn off the lights! Next thing I know, I’m proven wrong by Mythbusters!”

Laughing along with the ladies, we were very excited to learn that Mythbusters had busted an energy-wasting myth for the masses. None of us had ever seen or heard of the episode so we thanked her for sharing her story. Before leaving, we asked if they had heard of BC Hydro’s Team Power Smart – a free, online program designed to help British Columbians reduce their energy consumption by offering tips, mail-in rebates, and a way to track their energy saving progress. Ecstatic to hear about such an innovative program, the ladies signed up and said they look forward to finding out about more easy ways to save electricity.

Energy know-how is one of the greatest tools to help us decrease our impact on the planet. BC Hydro wants to empower customers with the knowledge to Save Like a Champion through the Team Power Smart program. After all, one light switch – even turned off for a blink of an eye – can make a difference.

Susan Lim is a Community Outreach representative based out of Surrey and will be at community events throughout the summer.